TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dustin Anderson, Director of Community Development
SUBJECT:
title
Ordinance and Resolution Associated with the Vacation of a Portion of Breen Road
Ordinance Approving a Vacation of 76,289 Square Feet of Breen Road, East of Route 53 (V-2-26)
Resolution Accepting the Dedication of a Public Utility Easement along Breen Road, East of Illinois Route 53
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BACKGROUND:
Breen Road is a two-mile road that runs east-west between Illinois Route 53 and Ridge Road. Roughly ¼ of the road is within the city limits and is improved slightly with blacktop surfacing and a double-lined median. The remaining section is in unincorporated Jackson Township. Traffic counts from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) estimate that as of 2023, approximately 200 vehicle trips per day occur throughout the existing roadway. The subject request is to vacate the western portion of roadway that connects with Illinois Route 53.
The applicant, TCIH Land Holdings, LLC, is the owner and future developer of land on both sides of the subject Breen Road area to be vacated. These properties are currently undeveloped and contain pre-existing farmland. The subject vacation is necessary to accommodate a future connection to a bridge that would cross Illinois Route 53 to connect the east and west portions of the East Gate Logistics Park industrial development. The annexation and development agreement for the adjoining land required that a bridge be built that would create a closed-loop network for tractor trailers that would circulate throughout the development.
In June of 2025, the City entered into a Settlement and Mutal Releases Agreement with Houbolt Road Extension JV, LLC, Centerpoint Properties Trust, Centerpoint Joliet Terminal Railroad, LLC, East Gate-Logistics Park Chicago, LLC, New Wave Farms, LLC, and Northpoint Development LLC relating to the construction of the Northpoint development in Joliet. Section10(L) of the Agreement states that East Gate shall be permitted to construct an aggregate of 3,000,000 square feet of Industrial Warehouse buildings on the east portion and/or west portion prior to approval of the site’s Regional Traffic Plan and the City shall be permitted to issue occupancy permits for such industrial warehouse buildings not exceeding 3,000,000 square feet in aggregate, provided that any and all tractor-trailer access with respect to such industrial warehouse buildings shall, comply with the terms of Section 3 of the Agreement, including, but not limited to, the completion of the construction of the 53 Bridge for any such industrial warehouse buildings constructed on the east portion (east of Illinois Route 53). Therefore, development of the eastern portion of the campus buildout, east of Illinois Route 53, cannot take place until the 53 Bridge is completed.
The developer would require access to the vacated property for construction of the proposed bridge landing. Due to the need for access, the petitioner is requesting that the Vacation Ordinance include a condition formally acknowledging the developer’s need for site access as described in Condition #1. The subject property would be rededicated as a public road once construction of the bridge landing is complete.
Access to Illinois Route 53 would still be provided by a connection with Breen Road to the improved Third Coast Parkway, as shown in the attached Traffic Plan exhibit. A roundabout at Third Coast Parkway and Compass Boulevard would provide access back out to Illinois Route 53 for local traffic. Local traffic traveling west on Breen Road would have the option to bypass the proposed truck barrier at the west end of Breen Road. Tractor-trailers will not be allowed to enter from Breen Road or exit Third Coast Parkway onto Breen Road unless emergency access is needed.
The Public Utilities and Public Works Departments are not opposed to this request. Nicor has stated that it does not have any known utilities within the subject area to be vacated. No other notified utility companies have submitted a response regarding this request as of the writing of this staff report. A Plat of Easement for a Public Utility Easement will cover the extent of the vacated roadway to allow for co-location of utilities as needed.
Approval of the requested Vacation and Plat of Easement would terminate Breen Road east of Illinois Route 53 as shown on the Plat of Vacation. Local traffic, including property owners along Breen Road, would still have access to Illinois Route 53 via Third Coast Parkway and Compass Boulevard. If the subject Vacation is approved, the developer will be required to post signage to warn motorists of the proposed roadway termination once the vacated segment of roadway is no longer usable.
PLAN COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING:
The Plan Commission held a public hearing on the subject petitions at its April 16, 2026, meeting. Nathaniel Washburn from KGG LLC, appeared on behalf of the petitions. Several public comments were made concerning future residential access to Route 53 and the proximity of the proposed bridge landing to the existing rural residences along Breen Road. Minutes of the meeting are attached hereto.
RECOMMENDATION OF THE PLAN COMMISSION:
recommendation
Jeff Crompton moved that the Plan Commission recommend approval of V-2-26: Vacation of 76,289 Square Feet of Breen Road, East of Route 53 and Plat of Easement for a Future Public Utility Easement, subject to the following condition:
1. That the public right-of-way vacated shall be permitted to be utilized by the property owner taking title to said right-of-way, their successors, assigns, and agents for purposes of a construction access for development of property located to the east of Illinois Route 53.
Jason Cox seconded the motion, which passed with seven (7) aye votes. Voting aye were: Cox, Crompton, Kella, Martin, Radakovich, Turk, and Hammac. Voting nay were: none. Commissioner Eulitz was absent.
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RECOMMENDATION OF THE ADMINISTRATION:
recommendation
Staff concur with the recommendation of the Plan Commission and recommend that the Mayor and City Council approve the following:
1. Ordinance Approving a Vacation of 76,289 Square Feet of Breen Road, East of Route 53
2. Resolution Approving a Plat of Easement for a Future Public Utility Easement Dedication between Breen Road and Route 53